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Materials Science & Technology
The objectives of MSTD are: promote the advancement of materials science in Nuclear Science Technology; support the multidisciplines which constitute it; encourage research by providing a forum for the presentation, exchange, and documentation of relevant information; promote the interaction and communication among its members; and recognize and reward its members for significant contributions to the field of materials science in nuclear technology.
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International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
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The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
TerraPower begins U.K. regulatory approval process
Seattle-based TerraPower signaled its interest this week in building its Natrium small modular reactor in the United Kingdom, the company announced.
TerraPower sent a letter to the U.K.’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, formally establishing its intention to enter the U.K. generic design assessment (GDA) process. This is TerraPower’s first step in deployment of its Natrium technology—a 345-MW sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt energy storage unit—on the international stage.
Clement P. C. Wong, Robert F. Bourque, Edward T. Cheng, R. Lewis Creedon, Isaac Maya, Robin H. Ryder, Kenneth R. Schultz
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 8 | Number 1 | July 1985 | Pages 114-132
Technical Paper | Blanket Comparison and Selection Study | doi.org/10.13182/FST85-A24677
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A systematic selection and evaluation of helium-cooled blanket concepts has been performed as part of the Blanket Comparison and Selection Study (BCSS). Helium-cooled Li2O, lithium, LiAlO2/Be, and Flibe/Be blanket concepts were selected for detailed design and evaluation. These concepts are applicable to both tokamak and tandem mirror reactors (TMRs). The design and analysis of Li2O, lithium, and LiAlO2/Be blanket concepts are presented. Previous blanket designs were studied and the pressurized lobe configuration was selected for the helium-cooled BCSS designs. Fifty-four different combinations of structural, breeder, and neutron multiplier materials were considered and four helium-cooled blanket concepts were selected for detailed design and evaluation. Mechanical, thermal, and neutronic designs were developed, and tritium control methods were specified. In the final BCSS evaluation, the Li2O blanket design ranked second for tokamaks and third for TMRs. The lithium blanket design ranked third for tokamaks and fourth for TMRs. To help guide future research and development, the critical issues associated with each of the helium-cooled designs were identified and necessary experimental data highlighted. These data include irradiation behavior of the blanket materials, compatibility between the structure and liquid-metal breeder materials, and the behavior of tritium in a helium-cooled blanket environment. The designs offer favorable performance, design simplicity, and attractive safety features for fusion reactors. Design improvements were identified that could allow still better performance of the helium-cooled blanket designs.